ALEX Lesson Plans

Title: Don't get lost in story writing: Follow the map!
Description:
In this lesson, teachers will guide the students, as a group, through the process of writing a meaningful story using a story map. First the teacher will review the parts that make up a successful story. Then, the students will be guided through the planning process in which they will make selections for each part of the story. At the end of the exercise, the students will experience how each selection they made as a group, combines to make one cohesive story. Once the group activity is complete, students will have the opportunity to plan and write stories individually using the same story map.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (5) 42: Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. [L.5.5]

Subject: English Language Arts (3 - 5) Title: Don't get lost in story writing: Follow the map!Description: In this lesson, teachers will guide the students, as a group, through the process of writing a meaningful story using a story map. First the teacher will review the parts that make up a successful story. Then, the students will be guided through the planning process in which they will make selections for each part of the story. At the end of the exercise, the students will experience how each selection they made as a group, combines to make one cohesive story. Once the group activity is complete, students will have the opportunity to plan and write stories individually using the same story map.

Title: Distance Learning Collaborative Literature Circles: Because of Winn Dixie
Description:
During this lesson, two classes in different locations will participate separately in literature circles using Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. The discussion of the book will be a collaborative project using distance learning.
Standard(s): [TC2] (3-5) 10: Use digital environments to collaborate and communicate.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: Distance Learning Collaborative Literature Circles: Because of Winn DixieDescription: During this lesson, two classes in different locations will participate separately in literature circles using Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. The discussion of the book will be a collaborative project using distance learning.

Title: Making Predictions
Description:
This lesson will use the trade book, Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome, to teach making predictions. Students will also learn the true story of Balto and create their own fictional story of Balto.
Standard(s): [TC2] (3-5) 8: Collect information from a variety of digital sources.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: Making PredictionsDescription: This lesson will use the trade book, Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome, to teach making predictions. Students will also learn the true story of Balto and create their own fictional story of Balto.

Title: Adjectives in a Bag!
Description:
During this hands-on lesson, students learn to describe unknown objects by using adjectives. Students have the opportunity to practice using adjectives by exploring an Internet site.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (3) 37: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.3.1]

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: Adjectives in a Bag!Description: During this hands-on lesson, students learn to describe unknown objects by using adjectives. Students have the opportunity to practice using adjectives by exploring an Internet site.

Title: My Bad Day
Description:
During this writing lesson students go step by step through the writing process to create a story about a bad day. Students use graphic organizers and Internet resources to help improve their writing skills.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (3) 26: With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of the first three Language standards in Grades K-3.) [W.3.5]

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: My Bad DayDescription: During this writing lesson students go step by step through the writing process to create a story about a bad day. Students use graphic organizers and Internet resources to help improve their writing skills.

Title: Composers Then and Now
Description:
During this lesson students will have the opportunity to research the following composers: Kenny G, W.C. Handy, Johannes Brahms, and Amadeus Mozart. Students will learn to navigate the Internet to locate important facts. They will also learn to use publishing software to create a brochure from the information they collect.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (3) 39: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening. [L.3.3]

Subject: Arts Education (3 - 12), or English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: Composers Then and NowDescription: During this lesson students will have the opportunity to research the following composers: Kenny G, W.C. Handy, Johannes Brahms, and Amadeus Mozart. Students will learn to navigate the Internet to locate important facts. They will also learn to use publishing software to create a brochure from the information they collect.

Title: Just Plain Living
Description:
Students work through a teacher-prepared Webquest in order to learn about the art, food, shelter, clothing, etc. of the Plains Indians. Internet resources are used to collect information in order to make group presentations to the class. Students have the opportunity to decide among several projects to complete in order to demonstrate what they have learned.
Standard(s): [TC2] (3-5) 12: Create a product using digital tools.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: Just Plain LivingDescription: Students work through a teacher-prepared Webquest in order to learn about the art, food, shelter, clothing, etc. of the Plains Indians. Internet resources are used to collect information in order to make group presentations to the class. Students have the opportunity to decide among several projects to complete in order to demonstrate what they have learned.

Title: Larger than Life
Description:
Students will write a tall tale narrative including larger than life characters with unusual skills or abilities using exaggeration, humor, surprise endings, and story elements (setting, characters, conflict, resolution).
Standard(s): [TC2] (3-5) 10: Use digital environments to collaborate and communicate.

Title: Olympics 2004 Treasure Hunt
Description:
This lesson is centered around an Olympics 2004 Treasure Hunt designed to give students an opportunity to learn about the history of the Olympic games and to generate interest in the modern Olympic games. Students are able to see the differences in the ancient games and today's modern games after viewing the Internet sites about the ancient Olympics and comparing those games to the modern Olympic events. Successful completion of the project requires that students navigate the Internet, work together, manage time wisely, and follow specific directions.
Standard(s): [TC2] (3-5) 8: Collect information from a variety of digital sources.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: Olympics 2004 Treasure HuntDescription: This lesson is centered around an Olympics 2004 Treasure Hunt designed to give students an opportunity to learn about the history of the Olympic games and to generate interest in the modern Olympic games. Students are able to see the differences in the ancient games and today's modern games after viewing the Internet sites about the ancient Olympics and comparing those games to the modern Olympic events. Successful completion of the project requires that students navigate the Internet, work together, manage time wisely, and follow specific directions.

Title: Picturing Parts of Speech
Description:
For this lesson students use digital cameras to take pictures which illustrate various parts of speech, then insert the pictures into a digital slideshow presentation and write sentences about the pictures.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (4) 38: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.4.1]

Subject: English Language Arts (3 - 4), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: Picturing Parts of SpeechDescription: For this lesson students use digital cameras to take pictures which illustrate various parts of speech, then insert the pictures into a digital slideshow presentation and write sentences about the pictures.

Title: Would you fit in with the Cherokees?
Description:
By gaining knowledge of other cultures, students will gain respect and appreciation for all people. Students will also become more interested in their own culture by exploring their own beliefs and customs.
Standard(s): [SS2010] GHS (3) 13: Describe prehistoric and historic American Indian cultures, governments, and economics in Alabama. (Alabama)

Subject: English Language Arts (3 - 4), or Social Studies (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5) Title: Would you fit in with the Cherokees?Description: By gaining knowledge of other cultures, students will gain respect and appreciation for all people. Students will also become more interested in their own culture by exploring their own beliefs and customs.

Title: Writing with Technology
Description:
The students will use technology (portable keyboards) to write a narrative.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (5) 39: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. [L.5.2]

Thinkfinity Lesson Plans

Title: Delicious, Tasty, Yummy: Enriching Writing with Adjectives and Synonyms
Description:
Students thoroughly explore identifying synonyms and adjectives before using them to add variety and interest to their own writing.
Standard(s):

Title: Charlotte is Wise, Patient, and Caring: Adjectives and Character Traits
Description:
Students find examples of adjectives in a shared reading. Then students '' become'' major characters in a book and describe themselves and other characters, using powerful adjectives.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (5) 30: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. [W.5.9]

Title: Where I Come From
Description:
In this lesson, from EDSITEment, students take research into their heritage a step beyond the construction of a family tree, traveling through cyberspace to find out what's happening in their ancestral homelands today and explore their sense of connection to these places in their past.
Standard(s): [SS2010] USS5 (5) 10: Describe political, social, and economic events between 1803 and 1860 that led to the expansion of the territory of the United States, including the War of 1812, the Indian Removal Act, the Texas-Mexican War, the Mexican-American War, and the Gold Rush of 1849.

Subject: Language Arts,Social StudiesTitle: Where I Come FromDescription: In this lesson, from EDSITEment, students take research into their heritage a step beyond the construction of a family tree, traveling through cyberspace to find out what's happening in their ancestral homelands today and explore their sense of connection to these places in their past.Thinkfinity Partner: EDSITEmentGrade Span: 3,4,5

Title: What Makes a Hero?
Description:
In this unit of eight lessons, from EDSITEment, students explore heroes and the traits that make them heroic. Students begin by thinking about their own heroes and list the character traits their heroes possess. Students then explore kid heroes, adults heroes, local heroes, and heroes from history, before completing one of several suggested culminating activities.
Standard(s): [SS2010] USS5 (5) 8: Identify major events of the American Revolution, including the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown.

Subject: Language Arts,Social StudiesTitle: What Makes a Hero?Description: In this unit of eight lessons, from EDSITEment, students explore heroes and the traits that make them heroic. Students begin by thinking about their own heroes and list the character traits their heroes possess. Students then explore kid heroes, adults heroes, local heroes, and heroes from history, before completing one of several suggested culminating activities.Thinkfinity Partner: EDSITEmentGrade Span: 3,4,5

Title: Fairy Tales, Then and Now
Description:
In this Xpeditions lesson, students read an old fairy tale or story and list the geographical features and characters described in the story. They then think about how the story might be updated to reflect their own modern setting and culture and conclude by performing an updated version of the story.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (5) 32: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on Grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly. [SL.5.1]

Subject: Language Arts - Literature - Language Arts - Story Telling - Social Studies - GeographyTitle: Fairy Tales, Then and NowDescription: In this Xpeditions lesson, students read an old fairy tale or story and list the geographical features and characters described in the story. They then think about how the story might be updated to reflect their own modern setting and culture and conclude by performing an updated version of the story.Thinkfinity Partner: National Geographic EducationGrade Span: 3,4,5

Title: Seasonal Haiku: Writing Poems to Celebrate Any Season
Description:
After listening to haiku poetry, students use seasonal descriptive words to write their own haiku, following the traditional format. They then publish their poems by mounting them on illustrated backgrounds.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (4) 5: Explain major differences among poems, drama, and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., casts of characters, settings, descriptions, dialogue, stage directions) when writing or speaking about a text. [RL.4.5]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Seasonal Haiku: Writing Poems to Celebrate Any SeasonDescription: After listening to haiku poetry, students use seasonal descriptive words to write their own haiku, following the traditional format. They then publish their poems by mounting them on illustrated backgrounds.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 3,4,5

Title: Composing Cinquain Poems with Basic Parts of Speech
Description:
Reinforce student understanding of parts of speech through the analysis of sample cinquain poems followed by the creation of original cinquains.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (4) 5: Explain major differences among poems, drama, and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., casts of characters, settings, descriptions, dialogue, stage directions) when writing or speaking about a text. [RL.4.5]

Subject: Language ArtsTitle: Composing Cinquain Poems with Basic Parts of SpeechDescription: Reinforce student understanding of parts of speech through the analysis of sample cinquain poems followed by the creation of original cinquains.Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThinkGrade Span: 3,4,5

Interactives/Games

Title: Noun Dunk
Description:
This is an interactive game for students to classify types of nouns.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (1) 37: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.1.1]

Learning Activities

Title: Noun Dunk
Description:
This is an interactive game for students to classify types of nouns.
Standard(s): [ELA2013] (1) 37: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.1.1]